SIX AIR FATALITIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 153, 31 May 1937, Page 7

SIX AIR FATALITIES

FIVE AT R.A.F. DISPLAYS. EMPIRE DAY TRAGEDIES. BLACK DAY FOR BRITAIN. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, May 29. Several, traged’es marred Air Force displays held at various aerodromes in commemoration of Empire Day. Squadron-Leader Power w’as killed instantly at Waddington when his ’plane nose-dived during a loop. Pilot-Officer Elms, when participating in formation flying at Salisbury, nose-dived from 300 feet.

Thousands of people, including many women and children, witnessed these crashes. The third fatal crash occurred at Farnborough, where a ’plane was demonstrating an intentional- spin to avoid antiaircraft gunfire. It could not right itself .and fell several hundred feet. The two occupants were burned to death.

The fourth fataility occurred when a pilot crashed in a field near Tangmere. The public was unaware of the mishap. The fifth occurred when a Percival Gull ’plane participating in the Emp're Day air race from London to the isle of Man crashed into a house in taking off. It caught fire, killing the pilot. A passenger was injured. There 'have been 10 deaths in Great Britain in the last •24 hours. *

The programmes were carried on in all cases despite the fatalities. It was one of the blackest days in British aviation.

The Farnborough accident was especially tragic. Anti-aircraft guns were firing dummy shells which were bursting in smoke round the ’plane. When it hurtled to the ground with smoke issuing from the exhaust, it was believed by spectators to be part of the performance.' They did not realise that the ’plane was doomed. The last words spoken into the rad’ophone. by Flight-Lieutenant Tanfield when his ’plane was crashing at Tangmere were: “Send a fire-engine.” Pilot-Officer - Elms’s ’plane turned turtle when it. struck t,he aerodrome and immediately caught fire. Elms was thrown clear, but was dead. The Percwal Gull machine crashed at Hanworth. A wing-tip struck a house and the ’plane burst into flames. It also set- fire to two houses. The Isle of Man race ended in a fog which obscured the finishing-point. Consequently an alteration in arrangements "was made, against which one competitor has protested. The committee is withholding the prizes pending a settlement.' A crash also, occurred in the evening •at Doncaster, where a Airways , machine', giving . passenger flights fell on the outskirts of the aerodrome. The pilot and five passengers were severely injured. Two later died. Eight thousand people w:tnessed the accident. 1

PLIGHT ROUND WORLD. MRS PUTNAM NEARLY READY. MIAMI, May 29. Mrs Amelia Earhart Putnam announced tliai she hopes to start her world flight again to-morrow or Tuesday, but is reversing her route in order to encounter more favourable weather. Mr Noonan, the navigator, . will accompany her for the entire -journey. The stages will include’ San Juan (Puerto Rico), Paramaribo (Dutch Guiana), Natal, Dakar, Aden, Karachi, India, Port Darwin, Howland Island, Honolulu, and Oakland,

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS

INCREASE OF CAPITAL

(British Official Wireless.) Received May 31. 8.5 a.m. RUGBY, May 28,

Imperial Airways Ltd. propose to increase the capital of the company to £5,000,000 by the creation of four million new shares of £1 each. The new shares, subject to the approval of the Secretary for Air, will be issued by the directors in such amount or amounts and at such time or times and upon auch terms as the directors shall at any time and from time to time think expedient.

REVIEW OF PROGRESS. LONDON, May 30. Sir Arclidale Parkhill, Australian Defence Minister, presided at the first meeting of the Civil Air Communications Committee, the proceedings of which were largely confined to the reviewing of the progress of Imperial air routes.

One of the committee’s main problems is the expansion of foreign airlines especially in South America and the Pacific. It is hoped the conclusions of the conference will contribute to Empire lines taking 'an equally prominent place.

GLIDING RECORD.

BERLIN, May 30.

Ernst Jachtmann, a gliding instructor, glided for 40 hours 43 minutes, a world, record .